NY Islanders Accomplish Offensive Milestone For Second Time in 30 Years

Yesterday's offensive explosion from the NY Islanders was the first time the Islanders scored four goals in a game since beating the Anaheim Ducks 6-1 for their sixth straight victory.

Among the goal-scoring frenzy, Brock Nelson set up Kyle Palmieri on a cross-ice pass, who then roofed the puck into the net giving the Isles a 3-1 lead. That assist was Nelson's 60th point of the season, joining Mat Barzal, Noah Dobson, and Bo Horvat, and the second time the Islanders have had four 60-point scorers in one season in 30 years.

The 1993-94 Islanders were led by 23-year-old Pierre Turgeon, who was coming off a 132-point (58 G, 74 A) season. The following season certainly wasn't as illustrious, but he still managed 94 points (38 G, 56 A) to lead the team. Joining Turgeon in the 60-point club were Steve Thomas (75), Derek King (70), and Benoit Hogue (69).

Along with their 60 points, all three also contributed 30 goals, with Thomas' 42 leading the way. Since that season, only one player has managed to top Thomas' total - Zigmund Palffy who did so on three occasions.

The only other time the Isles finished a season with four 60-point scorers was the 2017-18 season when Barzal (85), John Tavares (84), Josh Bailey (71), and Anders Lee (62) all reached the mark. The Islanders were one of the worst defensive teams in NHL history that season with Doug Weight in charge behind the bench.

It appears only Horvat and Nelson will reach the 30-goal plateau this season, but Barzal and Dobson are racking up the assists, as both could potentially end up with 60 (Barzal 51, Dobson 57).

If Dobson were to reach 60 assists, he'd be only the second Islanders' defenseman to do so, joining Denis Potvin who reached the mark three times. Potvin's record of 70 is still in Dobson's sites with 12 games remaining.

That 1993-94 season the Islanders finished the season with 84 points, sneaking into the playoffs and facing off against the NY Rangers in the first round of the playoffs where they were swept and outscored 22-3 over four games. If the Islanders manage to sneak into the playoffs again this season, they could end up meeting their arch-rivals in the first round for the first time since.